Nasal spray flu vaccine is back, but not at these clinics

This weekend is the Lehigh Valley Health Network’s 21st annual season flu vaccination clinic.

It’s free and it’s convenient, offered in a drive-through format at two locations. 

The clinic will not, however, offer the live attenuated influenza vaccine delivered by nasal spray, according to the health network. This is despite the nasal flu vaccine making its nationwide return this year after not being available the last two flu seasons due to concerns about its effectiveness.

All vaccine will be injected at the 2018 LVHN clinic, spokesman Brian Downs. The clinic is open to the public 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at Dorney Park in South Whitehall Township and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday at Coca-Cola Park in Allentown. Visit lvhn.org to print and complete a consent form in advance, register online for a time slot and to learn more. 

Similarly, flu vaccine will available by injection only at the free Bethlehem Health Bureau clinic scheduled 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 10 at East Hills Middle School for Bethlehem Area School District families, city Health Director Kristen Wenrich said. Visit the district website to print and complete the consent form in advance. 

The 2017-18 flu season was particularly severe, with a record-breaking estimated 900,000 hospitalizations and more than 80,000 deaths in the United States, the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases said last month.